The Meaning of 1 Corinthians 5:12 Explained

1 Corinthians 5:12

KJV: For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?

YLT: for what have I also those without to judge? those within do ye not judge?

Darby: For what have I to do with judging those outside also? ye, do not ye judge them that are within?

ASV: For what have I to do with judging them that are without? Do not ye judge them that are within?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For  what  have I  to do to judge  them also  that are without?  do  not  ye  judge  them that are within? 

What does 1 Corinthians 5:12 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Paul"s authority as an apostle did not extend to judging and prescribing discipline on unbelievers for their sins. He did, of course, assess the condition of unbelievers (e.g, Romans 1; et al.), but that is not what is in view here. His ministry and the ministry of other Christians in judging and disciplining sin took place only within church life. Judging means more than criticizing. It involves disciplining, too, as the context shows.

Context Summary

1 Corinthians 5:1-13 - Removing Germs Of Evil
The sin referred to in this chapter has been condoned by the Corinthian church, and this proved that the prevalent standard of morals was low. A man had married his father's second wife-his father having probably died. Such an alliance could not be tolerated. A condemnation of the sin must be pronounced by the whole body of believers, acting in concert with the Holy Spirit resident among them. "It seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us," Acts 15:28.
Paul compares the Corinthian church to the Children of Israel, who, after sprinkling the blood, kept the feast of joy within closed doors-a careful search having been made for any atom of leaven that had hitherto escaped scrutiny. So we should put away from our lives, homes, and churches everything that would offend the gracious Paraclete. Since Christ has been slain for us, we must daily feed on Him with festal joy. Our loins must be girded as becomes those about to depart at a moment's notice. We must be ever on the alert to detect the summons for an exodus out of this dark Egyptian world into the world that is to come. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Corinthians 5

1  The sexual immorality person,
6  is cause rather of shame unto them than of rejoicing
7  The old leaven is to be purged out
10  Heinous offenders are to be shamed and avoided

Greek Commentary for 1 Corinthians 5:12

For what have I to do? [τι γαρ μοι]
“For what is it to me (dative) to judge those without (τους εχο — tous exo)?” They are outside the church and not within Paul‘s jurisdiction. God passes judgment on them. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Corinthians 5:12

Mark 4:11 Unto them that are without [ἐκείνοις τοῖς ἔξω]
The two latter words are peculiar to Mark. The phrase means those outside of our circle. Its sense is always determined by the contrast to it. Thus, 1 Corinthians 5:12, 1 Corinthians 5:13, it is non-Christians in contrast with me. Colossians 4:5, Christians contrasted with people of the world. Compare 1 Thessalonians 4:12; 1 Timothy 3:7. Matthew (Matthew 13:11), with less precision, uses simply ἐκείνοις (to them), the pronoun of remote reference. Luke 8:10, τοῖς λοιποῖς (to the rest )i1. [source]
Colossians 4:5 Those that are without [τοὺς ἔξω]
As 1 Corinthians 5:12, 1 Corinthians 5:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:12. Compare τοὺς ἔσω thosewithin, 1 Corinthians 5:12. [source]
Colossians 4:5 Toward them that are without [προς τους εχω]
A Pauline phrase for those outside the churches (1 Thessalonians 5:12; 1 Corinthians 5:12.). It takes wise walking to win them to Christ. [source]
1 Timothy 3:7 Of them which are without [ἀπὸ τῶν ἔξωθεν]
Ἔξωθεν only once in Paul (2 Corinthians 7:6), and οἱ ἔξωθεν nowhere in Paul, and only here in Pastorals. Paul's phrase is ὁ ἔξω : see 1 Corinthians 5:12, 1 Corinthians 5:13; 2 Corinthians 4:16; 1 Thessalonians 4:12. [source]

What do the individual words in 1 Corinthians 5:12 mean?

What for [is it] to me those outside to judge Not within you do judge
Τί γάρ μοι τοὺς ἔξω κρίνειν οὐχὶ ἔσω ὑμεῖς κρίνετε

μοι  [is  it]  to  me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
τοὺς  those 
Parse: Article, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἔξω  outside 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ἔξω  
Sense: without, out of doors.
κρίνειν  to  judge 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active
Root: κρίνω  
Sense: to separate, put asunder, to pick out, select, choose.
ἔσω  within 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ἔσω  
Sense: to within, into.
κρίνετε  do  judge 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: κρίνω  
Sense: to separate, put asunder, to pick out, select, choose.